Home ›

Trade Center

2011 Highlights

Issue: 
April 2012
The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC), working in partnership with Capital Region Airport Authority enjoyed the dividends of a multi-year effort to develop an international cargo program in the region. The first international shipments of materials through Port Lansing and the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) located at Capital Region International Airport occurred in September.

Capital Regional International Airport Granted Next Michigan Status by MEDC

Issue: 
March 2012
The Capital Region International Airport’s Port Lansing Global Logistics Centre has been granted Next Michigan status by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Strategic Fund, meaning the Lansing airport is currently the only airport region outside of Detroit to receive the special tax development incentive status.

Travel to China with LRCC - October 16-25, 2012

Accompany LRCC staff and fellow Chamber members on a once-in-a-lifetime tour to discover China’s culture and witness their enormous market first-hand.

MSU Alum is a "Fan" of Port Lansing

Issue: 
February 2012
MSU alum Minh Tran has combined his passion for sports and his entrepreneurial spirit and created a rapidly-growing international business called Executive Fan. With the help of Port Lansing, Tran has been able to delay initial costs and give his business the jump-start it needed to succeed.
Conference
Where: M-TEC Center
Cost: FREE
STEP (Pure Michigan State Trade & Export Promotion) Seminar
The Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County (EDASCC - www.edascc.com) is hosting a Pure Michigan State Trade & Export Promotion (STEP) seminar to connect your business with resources and expertise that can help you develop a strategic export plan, enter new markets, and increase revenues from exports. Attendees will also learn about the benefits of utilizing a Foreign Trade Zone for their imports and exports.

Four Regional Export Networks (Map)

 

Overview of Michigan’s State Trade Export Promotion (STEP) Program (Fiscal Year 2012)

INTRODUCTION

Michigan companies with fewer than 500 employees can qualify for financial assistance for export-related activities through the new State Trade Export Promotion (step) program offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (medc).

Launched by the U.S. Small Business Administration (sba), the Michigan program opened on October 1, 2011, with the goal of rapidly growing Michigan’s export sales by:

  • Increasing the number of Michigan companies that export
  • Introducing current exporters to new foreign markets and buyers.

Export sales help diversify companies’ customer base, provide long-term stability and can support higher paying jobs. This program is just part of medc’s continued economic gardening strategy to support existing Michigan companies and create new jobs.

The funds are being awarded through a $1.5 million federal export award to the State of Michigan under the sba step program. Combining sba and medc dollars, Michigan’s step program funding is $1,956,000.

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Michigan’s step program provides direct reimbursements to qualified small and medium-sized export (sme) companies to develop or expand export-related activities via cost reimbursement of 50 percent of allowable export- related activities.
Eligible companies may qualify for up to $25,000 in assistance to enhance their ability to launch or grow export operations in Michigan. Approved funds may support (but are not limited to) the following activities:

  • Overseas trade mission participation
  • Overseas trade show participation
  • Foreign market sales trip
  • Subscription to U.S. Department of Commerce services
  • Foreign language translation services for export marketing materials and website assets

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible, companies must:

  • Have fewer than 500 employees (or otherwise be in accordance with SBA small business guidelines)
  • Be in good standing with the Michigan Department of Treasury
  • Provide an Employer Identification Number that is linked to a Michigan address
  • Meet all requirements listed in the document

HOW TO APPLY

Visit the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s STEP website and complete the online intake form. The intake form is simple to fill out and will take less than 15 minutes. Upon receipt, you will be contacted to confirm eligibility status and next steps. Questions may be directed to export@michigan.org.    

Michigan companies with fewer than 500 employees can qualify for financial assistance for export-related activities through the new State Trade Export Promotion (step) program offered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (medc).
Workshop
Key Issues in Expanding Your Business to Emerging Markets
Thursday, November 17th, 2011 at tge MSU Henry Center 8:30am-1:30pm. Register at www.GBClub.msu.edu. Co-sponsored by The Greater Lansing United Nations Association (GLUNA).

Port Lansing Processes First Substantial International Product Shipments

Issue: 
October 2011
The Capital Region Airport Authority recently recorded the first substantial international shipments of materials through Port Lansing directly utilizing the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program at the Port Lansing Global Logistics center, located at Capital Region International Airport.